Award-Winning Independent College Admissions Counselor Services for Help Writing the Personal Statement. Serving Los Angeles, Orange County, and Ventura County.
Our Team
“After working with someone who charged me much more money, College Zoom was actually 1,000 times better and 1,000 times cheaper.“ — Jonathan Assia, Beverly Hills, UCLA, College of Letters and Sciences, Class of 2015
Our Commitment to Excellence
All College Zoom advisors and specialists must pass a rigorous three-month selection process before they are invited to join our team. Once hired, each employee is trained as an expert in one part of the admissions process. Our customers describe us as: inspirational, hard-working, sharp, thought-provoking, friendly, and knowledgeable. We are educators who hold ourselves to the highest standards, aim to change lives, and can help you create applications that represent the best of you.
Confidence You Can Trust
When you work with College Zoom, you work with mentors who strive to exceed your expectations. Last year, only 16% of the candidates who applied to join our team passed their final round of interviews. Every candidate possessed excellent essay tutoring assessments, demonstrated counseling ability, and outstanding student testimonials, but the College Zoom difference shared by everyone on this page is our ability to help you uncover, connect, and articulate selling-points you cannot see in yourself.
Co-founder and Director
Why I do College Zoom:
“Besides dispelling myths about what admissions officers want to hear and making the admissions process easy, College Zoom helps students achieve a deeper sense of self that not only helps them articulate wonderful applications but also achieve greater success in college and throughout the rest of their lives. Impacting lives in that way is why I do College Zoom.”
— David Reynaldo
Preview:Led College Zoom to a 100% success rate in helping students gain acceptance to the nation’s top 100 universities, instructs a class on college essay writing for Beverly Hills High School, and more.
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Endorsement:
“David has a special gift in communicating with students. He demonstrates an ability to engage them in thought-provoking discussion creating an interest and desire to learn. It is rewarding to watch as my students’ enhanced abilities allow them to effectively communicate complex ideas and thoughts on a higher level than they had previously. Dr. Tedford, assistant principal of Beverly Hills High School, and I feel that David has the soul and all the qualities of a terrific teacher: patience, concern, ability to communicate the lesson and determination to succeed.”
— Dr. Raquel Ramsey, English Learning Coordinator, Beverly Hills High School
About David:
David Reynaldo is the director of College Zoom. Under David’s leadership College Zoom received two awards from the University of Southern California and achieved a 100% success rate in helping students gain acceptance to the nation’s top 100 universities.
David has been invited to speak at Beverly Hills High School (9 times), Malibu High School (twice), the University of Southern California (11 times), and Loyola Marymount University (once) on the topics of college preparation and entrepreneurship. In 2011 he became a recipient of the USC Marshall School of Business Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies’ Distinguished Speaker honor. That same year he also became the co-instructor of an elective class for Beverly Hills High School on college essay and resume writing.
College Achievements:
As a student at the University of Southern California, David was nominated for USC’s 2010 Marcia Israel Most Outstanding Student of the Year Award. He also received a Marshall School of Business Award nomination for Most Valuable Board Member of a Student Organization. David represented USC in a Target Corporation case study competition (featuring seven other southern California universities) where he was a winning team member and scholarship recipient. His particular recommendation was the only one from the competition that was forwarded to Target’s corporate headquarters. For a class, David wrote a business feasibility analysis that is currently used as a teaching example by the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (ranked 5th in the nation) for undergraduate and graduate school classes. David graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and concentration in entrepreneurial studies in 2010.
Co-founder and Process Coach
Why I do College Zoom:
“I am the youngest president of one of America’s oldest corporations because of a decision I made to transfer to a university that had a better program for my major. I was admitted to a top-ranked program and the experience was everything I dreamed it would be and more. Helping others gain the vision that allows them to make similar and better informed, life-changing decisions is why I do College Zoom.” .
— Sean Bandawat
Preview: USC Marshall School of Business: Lifetime Achievement Award winner, youngest president of America’s oldest housewares company, and more.
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About Sean:
Sean Bandawat is an adjunct advisor for College Zoom and helps students who need general guidance for managing the admissions process. He has conducted over 150 professional student interviews and also prepares students for admissions office interviews through mock interview practice. Sean is the president of Jacob Bromwell, Inc., America’s oldest cookware manufacturer, in addition to being the founder and president of RateMyFraternity.com and RateMySorority.com.
College Achievements:
As a USC student, Sean was one of the few student’s in history to receive a USC Marshall School of Business Lifetime Achievement Award as a junior. He also won the Most Outstanding President of a Student Organization award for his term as the president of USC’s Chapter of Delta Sigma Pi. During his term, the chapter won its second consecutive set of national awards for most outstanding professional activities and alumni relations. Sean also independently raised $10,000 in gifts and donations for Delta Sigma pi from corporate sponsors. Later, as Delta Sigma Pi’s Vice President of Alumni Relations he created the first annual Delta Sigma Pi Southern California Alumni Mixer. The event attracted over 500 Deltasig alumni and collegiate members from 13 chapters and helped Phi Chapter win its third national award for most outstanding alumni relations. In Sean’s last position before graduating, he was a co-Vice President of Professional Activities. His flagship professional event featured celebrity efficiency guru Tim Ferriss, and attracted over 500 attendees.
Outside of Delta Sigma Pi, Sean and other members of the fraternity assumed leadership positions in GLOBUS, a USC Marshall student organization for global business leadership. As president of GLOBUS, Sean organized a flagship social-benefit event that featured Oscar Award-winning actress Natalie Portman, attracted over 2,000 people, and set a Marshall School of Business attendance record for a Friday night, student organized event. In his last semester before graduating, Sean was one of a small number of students admitted to USC’s exclusive Art and Adventure of Leadership class taught by former USC President Steven Sample and Pulitzer prize nominated leadership guru Warren Bennis. In 2010, Sean graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and concentration in entrepreneurial studies.
Endorsement:
“My interview went great – better than I could have imagined! I really impressed my admissions office interviewer, and he said that I was asking all the right questions. It was really easy and comfortable, like a conversation, and we laughed and made jokes. I’m really happy about how well it went! I can’t say thank you enough!”
— Alex U., USC Class of 2015 applicant
Co-founder and Process Coach
Why I do College Zoom:
“Everyone at College Zoom has a passion for making a meaningful impact on others. The sole reason this business exists is because the impact we make on our students not only opens the doors to a better education, but changes their lives. When I see a student get into his or her dream school, I feel like I just got into mine – all over again. That’s why I do College Zoom.”
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— Ryan Christensen
Preview: USCTrustee Scholar, Deloitte consulting national case competition qualifier and regional competition winner, and more.
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About Ryan:
Ryan Christensen led the development of College Zoom’s award-winning business plan and conducted primary research with admissions professionals who collectively possessed 125 years of industry experience. He is currently an adjunct advisor for College Zoom who provides direction and advice to students who lack direction and vision. He holds a full-time position with Deliotte & Touche, one of the four largest international accountancy firms in the world, and is pursuing a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
College Achievements:
Ryan was a Trustee Scholar and attended the University of Southern California on full scholarship. At USC, he joined Accounting Society and volunteered at inner-city elementary schools as a student participant in USC’s Joint Educational Program. Ryan also interned for Disney Management Audit and Deloitte. As an intern for Deloitte, Ryan was a participant on the winning team of a Deloitte Case Competition in Los Angeles, California and qualified for the Deloitte National Case Competition in Scottsdale, Arizona. Ryan graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a concentration in entrepreneurial studies in 2010.
Process Coach
Why I do College Zoom:
“Each one of us has a gift that only we can give to the world. It is a product of our unique experiences, talents and skills. I had mentors who, through passion, care and skill, were able to assist me in discovering who I am and the gift I have to offer. Because of that self-discovery, I found the vision, passion and conviction I needed to do and be my very best. Helping others discover and share their gift is why I do College Zoom.”
— Cody Silva
Preview: Alfred Kilp Award for Service and Leadership, National Collegian of the Year for America’s foremost professional business fraternity, and more.
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About Cody
Cody Silva is an adjunct advisor for College Zoom who helps students find their major and additional colleges they may want to consider. As an exceptional regional communiteam director for iBELIEVE, Cody was selected to participate in a small team tasked with developing a new and engaging youth outreach program for empowering young leaders to make a difference in the world. He also received official letters of commendation issued by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaii for his work on education policy as an intern for both offices.
College Achievements
Cody was a stand-out student at Loyola Marymount University with a host of distinctions, awards, honors, and accolades to attribute to his name.
Cody received LMU’s Alfred Kilp Award for Service and Leadership after leading the effort to write and pass the largest top-to-bottom reform of associated student government in the university’s recent history with the goal of achieving a more effective, efficient and ethical associated student government.
As a member of Delta Sigma Pi, America’s foremost professional business fraternity, Cody was elected to serve as the president of his chapter twice and led the student organization to winning regional, provincial and national awards. The most prominent of the awards included chapter of excellence, most improved chapter and most outstanding chapter.
Cody won a full-tuition scholarship to the LeaderShape Institute, a not-for-profit organization that strives to empower college students to lead with integrity. He also won a myriad of other scholarships from LMU and Delta Sigma Pi for academic excellence and merit-based accomplishments.
In 2011, Cody received Delta Sigma Pi’s highest honor for collegian members by being named the national collegian of the year and was appointed to the fraternity’s national board of directors.
Cody graduated from LMU in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in economics .
Personal Statement Writing Coach
Why I do College Zoom:
“I was once inspired by a counselor who allowed me to see my own strengths and helped me to become the successful college applicant I worked so hard to be. From my own experience, I strongly believe that the college admissions process involves more than finding the right school; it is a discovery process where students can learn how to become the best versions of themselves. That’s why I do College Zoom.”
— Alexandra Corvin
Preview: Former UCLA Admissions Counselor, Western Association of College Admission Counseling (WACAC) and California Association of School Counselors (CASC) member, and more.
View Alexandra's Professional Bio
About Alexandra:
Alex Corvin is a member of the Western Association of College Admission Counseling (WACAC) and California Association of School Counselors (CASC). She learned the ins-and-outs of the selection process as a former admissions counselor in UCLA’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Alex is an essay specialist for College Zoom and helps students see their own strengths and learn how to present the best versions of themselves in their applications.
College Achievements:
Alex graduated from UCLA as a dean’s honor list student with a major in psychology and minor in educational studies in 2010. Throughout college, Alex served as a counselor and coordinator for counselors in training at Four Winds Westward Ho Camp where she taught, mentored, and developed curriculum for high school juniors and seniors. She was an officer in Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and served as a social psychology research assistant. Alex is currently a graduate student at the University of Southern California. She is pursuing her masters in education in school counseling with a pupil personnel services credential. Alex originally began her counseling career as a peer mediator at age eleven. Not long after, she began teaching workshops on communications skills through Conciliation Forums of Oakland and led training on the process of mediation to students in her community.
Personal Statement Writing Coach
Why I do College Zoom:
“To teach is one of the greatest gifts one can give to the world. To inspire is even greater. I work with students in hopes that I may inspire them in the same way that my mentors inspired me. The day I got into my dream school is a moment I will cherish forever, and those are the moments I want for others. Touching someone’s life in that way is why I do College Zoom.”
— Valerie Chu
Preview: Tutor for Teach for Los Angeles; financial, career, and college planning course instructor for Skills For Living, Inc., student panelist for Explore USC, and more.
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About Valerie:
Valerie Chu is an essay specialist for College Zoom. She helps students demonstrate character and originality in their writing. Valerie is a sophomore at the University of Southern California pursuing a degree in Writing for Screen and Television with a minor in Business Law. Currently, she works for both the Business Affairs Office and the Dean’s Office at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.
College Achievements:
Valerie has worked with a variety of student programs since high school, most recently, Teach for Los Angeles, a student volunteer organization that tutors local students in both math and reading. Valerie also volunteered for the non-profit organization, Skills for Living, in Houston, Texas. During that summer, she co-taught a financial, career, and college planning course to high school sophomores. At USC, Valerie is a member of the UNICEF club. She is also on the student panel for Explore USC, a program that allows recently-admitted cinema students to tour the school and ask questions about current students’ experiences.
Personal Statement Writing Coach
Why I do College Zoom:
“I enjoy helping others discover their stories; the kind of stories that communicate who they are, what they’ve experienced, and the value they offer society. Empowering students to be able to communicate those stories in a way that colleges will be able to see the value in is deeply rewarding for me, and that’s why I do College Zoom.”
— Alex Park
Preview: Business plan competition 3rd Place Finisher, top 10 Finalist in a $100,000 national business plan competition, and more.
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About Alex:
Alex Park is a Junior at the University of Southern California pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Marketing.
Professional Accomplishments:
Alex recently placed 3rd in a Business Plan Competition sponsored by the mayor of Beverly Hills, beating out MBA students to win funds for his business idea. He also placed in the Top 10 for a $100,000 national business plan competition sponsored by a top national advertising agency.
College Achievements:
At USC, Alex is deeply involved with Delta Sigma Pi, a highly-selective business fraternity and now serves on the upper board of leadership within the organization. As a full-time student, Alex has been working in order to pay for college and manages a computer service business that he is expanding today. He has been working diligently to build his experience, knowledge, and connections to one day become a successful entrepreneur.
Personal Statement Writing Coach
Why I do College Zoom:
“Empowering others to find the power in their voice is why I do College Zoom. I believe that having the confidence to express oneself honestly and authentically is needed to accomplish anything. Because I was fortunate to have mentors who helped me find the power in my voice, I enjoy passing that inspiration on to those around me. “
— Richard Palin
Preview: Loyola Marymount Club Sports Department Supervisor of the Year, inducted into the exclusive Vector Marketing President’s Club, and more.
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About Richard:
Richard is a senior at Loyola Marymount University. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Management.
Professional Accomplishments:
Richard received awards for Club Sports Supervisor of the Year as well as the People’s Choice Award for Employee of the Year in recognition of his efforts to improve the Loyola Marymount Club Sports Department. Over the past two summers, Richard also received awards for his performance in the sales representative and manager positions at Vector Marketing. After selling $20,000 of product in one summer, Richard was inducted into Vector Marketing’s exclusive President’s Club. Then, as a manager he worked with hundreds of students and was responsible for training and developing several of the top sales representatives in the state of California.
College Achievements:
As a member of LMU’s award-winning chapter of the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, Richard served at three different elected positions, and is the current Chancellor on the chapter’s Executive Board. The chapter received regional, provincial and national awards: the most prominent of which included chapter of excellence, most improved chapter and most outstanding chapter. In past semesters, Richard has worked to expand the chapter’s alumni network and has led the effort to standardize the pledge process, which develops personal and professional growth in prospective members of the fraternity.
Personal Statement Writing Coach
Why I do College Zoom:
“I remember dreading the college essay process, but in the end it helped me discover who I was and find confidence in my voice. As a result of my experience, I am passionate about empowering others to recognize their greatest strengths and learn how to communicate their best qualities in the most compelling way. That’s why I do College Zoom.”
— Christopher Organ
Preview: USC Trustee Scholar, in a writing intensive honors program reserved for the top 5% of his class, selected from a nationwide pool of candidates for an exclusive career advancement program, and more.
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About Chris:
Chris Organ is a junior at the University of Southern California pursuing a double major in International Relations Global Business and East Asian Languages & Cultures. As a Trustee Scholar, Chris attends USC on a full scholarship and is enrolled in USC’s invitation-only Thematic Option Honors Program reserved for the top 5% of an incoming class. Chris is also enrolled in USC’s invitation-only Global Leadership Program, a Marshall School of Business honors program for the top 10% of an incoming class. Aside from his professional interests in the entertainment industry, Chris is passionate about learning Spanish and Japanese, understanding other cultures, and helping others realize their fullest potential. He also loves being as active as possible and going to the beach.
College Achievements:
Chris was nominated for the USC Marshall School of Business’s Most Outstanding Vice President of a Student Organization award. He raised $12,000 in corporate sponsor donations for the Black Business Student Association while serving as the organization’s Vice President and VP of External Relations. Chris also joined USC’s premier professional business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi where he raised $5,000 and acquired 10 additional corporate sponsors while serving as the Vice President of Professional Activities and VP of Corporate Relations.
Professional Accomplishments:
Chris was one of 200 students selected from a nationwide pool of candidates to participate in an 18 month, intensive career development program, Management Leadership for Tomorrow. He completed monthly assignments focusing on analytical thinking, skill assessment, action planning, and business communication. Further he participated in quarterly seminars hosted by industry professionals from firms such as Goldman Sachs, Deloitte Consulting, and Creative Artists Agency. This past summer, Chris completed an internship with Paramount Pictures International where he coordinated competitive release schedules for executives and wrote film analyses for market research reports.
Standardized Test Partner
Why I do College Zoom:
“My greatest passion is helping a student gain confidence on tests like the SAT – contagious confidence that empowers the student to gain confidence in everything. My philosophy starts with helping students realize that the test is a game. Once they learn how to avoid the traps and obstacles laid out for them (because of the way the test is written), they can go from being the hunted to the hunter. That is why I do College Zoom.”
— Jack Friedman
Preview: Founder of an ACT/SAT prep company currently serving hundreds of students throughout southern California, USC Marcia Israel Most Outstanding Student of the Year Award nominee, and more.
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About Jack:
Study Smart Tutors is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau and provides test preparation services with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, or your money back.
Jack Friedman founded Study Smart Tutors Inc. out of his dorm room at the University of Southern California in 2007. Having personally worked with hundreds of students, Jack understands the psychology behind how students learn and has a passion for helping them achieve their college dreams. Jack is a standardized test specialist for College Zoom.
In 2010, Study Smart Tutors’s clients included: the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative, CLU Upward Bound, CSULB Upward Bound, Los Angeles Southwest College Upward Bound, CSUN Upward Bound, and TELACU Education Foundation Upward Bound.
College Achievements:
Jack worked for two national test prep companies, before starting Study Smart Tutors Inc., where he tutored students from 5th to 12th grades in academic subjects as well as test prep. Jack founded Study Smart Tutors because he understood that the teaching material he was required to use was ineffective and could be improved to help students raise their scores.
Jack was nominated for USC’s 2010 Marcia Israel Most Outstanding Student of the Year Award and juggled his studies with running Study Smart Tutors throughout his entire college experience. Before Jack graduated Cum Laude from USC, the business plan for Study Smart Tutors Inc. was awarded Top Undergraduate Business Plan by USC’s Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in May 2010 and won Top Feasibility Plan in May 2009.
Associate professor at the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Professor Henry is a Golden Apple Award recipient for excellence in teaching. He is the “Fishing Coach” principal of USC & Referral Engine Company. He teaches students how to market their best attributes and make strong first impressions.
Adjunct professor at the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Professor Williams is the Chief Strategist of LW and Associates and founder of Business SimplyPut. She teaches students how to communicate very complex ideas in very simple language and has addressed audiences at many U.S. corporations.
Assistant professor at the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Professor Knapp is a Golden Apple Award recipient for excellence in teaching. He founded Honolua Surf Co. and is the president and founder of Club Sportswear, Inc. College Zoom began as a student-led project in Professor Knapp’s Applied Entrepreneurial Feasibility Lab at USC.
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